Jay Tooker

Partner – Holman Fenwick Willan

E: jay.tooker@hfw.com

T: +44 (0)20 7264 8386

W: www.hfw.com

What sort of clients do you advise?

Yards, buyers, financiers, brokers, managers, designers

How did you end up in superyacht law?

Having begun in the fields of company law, tax and trusts, I shifted to maritime law almost 30 years ago when I came to London. I started doing the occasional yacht-related case (yacht construction, yacht sale and purchase) soon after and my involvement with yachts has expanded incrementally since then.

What makes a good superyacht lawyer?

An ability to see problems for what they are, neither overestimating nor underestimating, and to find straightforward, practical solutions. Obviously it helps to have many years’ experience in the yachting sector but it also helps to have experience of other areas and other ways of getting things done – sometimes the answer is outside the box and the pure yacht specialist may not see it.

What do you most like about your job?

Nearly 30 years ago I was encouraged to join my current firm and become a maritime lawyer by someone who assured me I would never be bored. That has been true and I still enjoy the scope for creative thinking – helping the client to get from A to B on a path that may not be obvious.

What one piece of advice would you give to potential yacht buyers?

Keep it in perspective and keep it straightforward. Buy a yacht for enjoyment; buy the yacht you will enjoy; and build with the yard that makes you feel comfortable. Give fiscal considerations their proper priority, which is rarely at the top of the list. Get these things right and your lawyer can help make the deal happen with all necessary protections; but don’t expect a contract to turn a bad deal into a good one.

Official biography

Jay specialises in yacht and ship building, yacht and ship sale and purchase, yacht, ship and asset finance, corporate law and international trade. He is a French speaker.

Jay is recommended by both Chambers UK 2014 and Legal 500 UK 2014 for his expertise with superyacht financing. In Chambers UK 2014, Jay “receives widespread praise for his shipping finance practice, and is known in the market for his excellent superyacht financing capabilities.”